Malabar Tamarind

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Malabar Tamarind
• Malabar-tamarind

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cambogia gummi-gutta

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales and the family Clusiaceae, it is specifically classified under the genus Garcinia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Garcinia gummi-gutta, possesses a very specific and localized geographical distribution. Its presence is primarily centered within the tropical regions of the Indian Subcontinent. Specifically, the species is native to the various landscapes found across India. Within these territories, it thrives in environments that support its unique biological requirements. Consequently, its natural habitat is closely tied to the climatic conditions of this particular South Asian region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Garcinia gummi-gutta is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to maintain its biological functions and structural integrity over many successive growing seasons. Throughout its lifespan, the species exhibits an evergreen habit, ensuring that it retains its foliage year-round rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding period. This continuous presence of leaves supports a steady process of photosynthesis, contributing to its long-term survival and developmental stability within its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Garcinia gummi-gutta is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. It reaches an average plant height of approximately 14 m, establishing a sturdy structure that is classified as self-supporting rather than acting as an obligatory or facultative climber. Unlike epiphytic species that may occupy various niches such as hemi-epiphytic or facultative roles, this plant is strictly terrestrial in its growth habit. Its physical structure is defined by a permanent woody constitution, distinguishing it from herbaceous or non-woody vegetation.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Plant height mean:

14 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Garcinia gummi-gutta is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide through the enzyme RuBisCO. As a plant that does not employ C4 or CAM metabolic adaptations, its carbon fixation efficiency is primarily influenced by environmental temperature and light availability. Furthermore, this species is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms; instead, it relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system to satisfy its nutritional requirements for growth and metabolic processes.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Garcinia gummi-gutta is characterized by a specific pollination strategy and seed morphology. The plant utilizes a bee-based pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization, as self-fertilization is notably absent in its reproductive cycle. The resulting seeds exhibit a highly consistent mass, with a recorded mean, maximum, and minimum value all measured at 0.5917 g, indicating a uniform seed size within the studied parameters.

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Seed mass mean:

0.5917 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Garcinia gummi-gutta has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf.

Fruit

1. Natural product research
2. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)
3. Heliyon

Leaf

1. Natural product communications

Chemicals

Garcinia gummi-gutta has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CATECHIN, Dicaffeoylquinic acid, Flavonoids, Gallic acid, Guttiferone R.

CATECHIN

1. Heliyon

Dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Natural product research

Flavonoids

1. Heliyon

Gallic acid

1. Heliyon

Guttiferone R

1. Heliyon

Hinokiflavone

1. Heliyon

Luteolin 7-O-glucuronide

1. Natural product research

Prunin

1. Heliyon

TANNIC ACID

1. Natural product communications

Tannase

1. Natural product communications

Activities

Garcinia gummi-gutta has 5 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antiviral.

Antioxidant

1. Natural product research
2. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)
3. Heliyon

Antibacterial

1. Heliyon

Antidiabetic

1. Heliyon

Antimicrobial

1. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)

Antiviral

1. Heliyon

Medicinal Uses

Garcinia gummi-gutta has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antidiabetic, antioxidant, antiviral.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations